<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Livestream will start at 14:00 CAT on 5th May 2020</h2>



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</div><figcaption>COVID-19 and lockdown have dealt a severe blow to many of South Africa&#8217;s over five million micro and small businesses. But as the country moves to phase 4 of lockdown what measures and funding are in place to help them survive? Is it enough? Find out on this riveting Zoom #BusinessTomorrow panel discussion.</figcaption></figure>



SPEAKERS



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TOPICS COVERED



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Funding options for small businesses during times of lockdown and COVID-19</li><li>How to access the funding</li><li>Is it enough?</li><li>What measures are in place to help small businesses survive?</li><li>Rebuilding your business for tomorrow </li></ul>

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Live Now: Reviving your small business

South Africa’s Minister of Small Business Development, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, has issued <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2020/04/07/sa-launches-green-fund-to-drive-investment-into-smmes/">directions aimed at helping SMMEs</a> operating grocery stores in the country, including corner shops, spaza shops and fruit and vegetable stores, comply with the government’s COVID-19 lockdown regulations.



SMME grocery stores are permitted to operate during the lockdown period irrespective of the nationality of their owners provided that they meet the following requirements listed in the statement below.



The following is a statement on behalf of South Africa’s Ministry of Small Business Development:



MEDIA STATEMENT



DIRECTIONS TO ASSIST SMMEs OPERATING GROCERY STORES, CORNER SHOPS, SPAZA SHOPS TO COMPLY WITH COVID-19 LOCKDOWN REGULATIONS



Minister of Small Business Development (DSBD), Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has, in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002) issued Directions aimed at assisting SMMEs operating grocery stores including corner shops, spaza shops, fruit and vegetable stores to comply with the COVID-19 Lockdown Regulations.&nbsp;



In terms of the lockdown regulations, all enterprises operating within the boarder of the Republic of South Africa are expected to close during the lockdown period except for enterprises which are designated as providers of essential goods and services as per Annexure (b) to the lockdown regulations.



The Minister would like to point out that in terms of the recently gazetted Directions, grocery stores which include corner shops, spaza shops and fruit and vegetable stores are permitted to operate during lockdown period irrespective of the nationality of the owners provided that they adhere to the following:



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Must hold permits issued by their respective local municipality allowing them to trade in line with the provisions of the Business Act 71 of 1991 as amended.</li><li>No person may stay overnight in the grocery store as this in contravention of the Food Safety and Health Standards.</li><li>Only the sale of food staff and basic necessities is permitted, grocery stores must not sell products or goods that are prohibited by the lockdown Regulations.</li><li>The grocery stores must uphold the Health and Hygiene requirements by:</li></ol>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Maintaining a social distance amongst customers and between the trader and customer of at least 1-metre.</li><li>Disinfecting and sanitizing trading spaces in line with the directions issued by the Department of Health.</li><li>Spaza shop owner and informal food traders currently trading without permits may apply for temporary permits, and in case of Non-South African citizens, the business owner (a) must have been lawfully&nbsp; residing in the republic and must hold a valid passport with a visa issued by the department of Home Affairs in terms of section 10 of the Immigration Act, 2002 (13 of 2002), authorising him or her to operate a business (b) must alternatively hold an asylum seekers’ permit issued in terms of section 22 of the Refugees Act, 1998 (Act 130 of 1998), which allows him or her to work. Permission to operate will be linked to the period covered by the asylum seekers’ permit.</li></ul>



The Informal Food Traders as referred to in the Regulations are limited to Fruit and Vegetable informal traders and the Langanas, who operate in the Northern Cape and Western Cape.



All enterprises referred to must ensure that they have absolute minimum number of staff necessary to safely operate the enterprise. Furthermore, employers are encouraged to provide transport for their employees during the lockdown period.



SMMEs wishing to enquire on information to clarify their status as rendering essential services or providing essential goods may contact the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) on 0860 663 7867, alternatively send their queries to <a href="mailto:info@dsbd.gov.za">info@dsbd.gov.za</a>.



Enquiries: <a href="mailto:Media@dsbd.gov.za">Media@dsbd.gov.za</a> / +27 (0) 66&nbsp;285 0481



Issued by GCIS on behalf of



The Ministry of Small Business Development



07 April 2020



For more coverage on COVID-19 visit: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/">https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/</a>

Africans singled out in southern China sparks diplomatic backlash

SMME grocery stores permitted to operate during South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown

MINISTRY



&nbsp;SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT&nbsp;



REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA



Private Bag X274, PRETORIA, 0001, the dti Campus, 77
Meintjies Street, Sunnyside PRETORIA Tel: (012) 394 5535/1813&nbsp;



Private Bag X9047, CAPE TOWN, 8000, Tel: (021) 464 2980,
Fax: (021) 461 2480&nbsp;



Media Statement



For Immediate Release&nbsp;



24 March 2020&nbsp;



STATEMENT BY MINISTER NTSHAVHENI ON GOVERNMENT MEASURES
FOR SMMEs IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC&nbsp;



The President on the 23rd of March 2020 announced that
there will be a nation-wide lockdown for 21 Days with effect from the 26th of
March 2020, at midnight. The lockdown is enacted in accordance with the
Disaster Management Act. As a result, all shops and businesses will be closed,
with the exception of pharmacies, laboratories, banks, essential financial and
payment services, supermarkets, petrol stations and healthcare providers.&nbsp;



The impact of COVID-19 on SMMEs has been prevalent long
before the announcement of the State of National Disaster by the President, and
will worsen owing to the lockdown which was announced in effort to curb the
spread of the virus. SMMEs and the Informal Sector will be affected on a
multifront, and the government continues to announce multiple interventions to
alleviate the economic impact of COVID-19 against SMMEs and the Informal
Sector.&nbsp;



Minister Ntshavheni would like to extend a word of
appreciation to all donors who have committed to assist SMMEs during this
period, with a special note of gratitude to the Rupert and Oppenheimer families
for their commitment of R1 billion each. The monies are intended provide relief
to SMMEs and their employees that are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;



The Department of Small Business Development has
introduced three intervention measures to support SMMEs affected by the
COVID-19 pandemic. These are the Business Growth and Resilience Facility, SMME
Relief Finance Scheme and Sefa-Debt Restructuring Facility.&nbsp;



The Business Growth and Resilience Facility is targeted
at SMMEs who locally manufacture or supply hygiene and medical products that
are in demand in order to curb and manage the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
These are products such as sanitizers, detergents and tissue paper. This
facility will offer working capital, stock, bridging finance, order finance and
equipment finance. The funding amount will be based on the funding needs of the
actual business.



The SMME Relief Finance Facility will provide soft-loan
funding for existing businesses in distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The
relief will be for a period of 6 months, from 01 April 2020. In an instance
where SMMEs will require assistance for longer than 6 months, the term may be
extended dependent on their needs. Separate and tailor-made Facilities are
being finalized for the Informal Sector, Spaza Shops and the Self-Employed.
These will be announced on Friday, 27 March 2020.



Key to the qualifying criteria for the Business Growth
and Resilience Facility and the SMME Relief Finance Scheme is that the entities
must be 100% South African owned, 70% of their employees must be South African,
and the entities must be registered and be compliant with SARS. In the instance
that an SMME is not compliant, they will be assisted with the compliance
process before their applications can be considered.&nbsp;



The Sefa-Debt Restructuring Facility is geared towards
sefa-funded SMMEs that are negatively affected by the pandemic. A payment
moratorium/ holiday will be given to the qualifying SMMEs for a period of a
maximum of 6 months, in efforts to reduce the installment burden of loan
obligations on the affected SMMEs. These SMMEs will be required to illustrate
the direct linkage of their business distress to the pandemic.&nbsp;



The SMME South Africa platform (<a href="http://www.smmesa.gov.za">www.smmesa.gov.za</a>) was created in
partnership with Telkom SA, and will serve as a gateway for SMMEs to apply for
both financial and non-financial support, access information about business
opportunities and market access support during the pandemic, and beyond.&nbsp;



The Department would like to caution members of the
public against the consumption and circulation of false information not
originating from the Department’s official communication channels.&nbsp;



//End …&nbsp;



Issued by the Ministry of Small Business Development

Khumbudzo Ntshavheni

Live Now: Reviving your small business

SMME grocery stores permitted to operate during South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown

These are the relief measures being offered to South Africa’s small businesses during lockdown

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Khumbudzo Ntshavheni

Live Now: Reviving your small business

SMME grocery stores permitted to operate during South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown

These are the relief measures being offered to South Africa’s small businesses during lockdown

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Advertise With Us

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